Best Of: Essential Original Masters 25 Classics [Original recording remastered]

Mac Wiseman | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 18, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Rural Rhythm
• ASIN: B000G1R4M0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #179,685 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely an essential collection of mid-1960s music from Mac, January 1, 2007

By 

J. Ross "a-music_fan" (Roseburg, OR USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Best Of: Essential Original Masters 25 Classics (Audio CD)

With over 50 years in business, Rural Rhythm Records has built a catalog that connects many dots from past to present. Since its 1955 creation, Rural Rhythm has released hundreds of classic performances by many legendary bluegrass and old-time musicians such as J.E. Mainer, Don Reno, Red Smiley, Mac Wiseman, Vassar Clements, Hylo Brown, Bill Harrell, Jim Eanes, and many others. This album is part of that archival catalog. The label owes its Arcadia, California start to Uncle Jim O'Neal whose vision was to release the music of many top bluegrass and old-time musicians in the 1950-70s, seeking success where Starday had failed by producing records of limited appeal by lesser known, albeit talented, musicians.

Mac Wiseman was born on May 23, 1925. He hails from Crimora, Virginia but lives on Percy Priest Lake, near Nashville. He was born in 1925, the same year the Grand Ole Opry started. In 1944, Mac began his career as a DJ in in Harrisonburg, Virginia. In 1946, he worked with Molly O'Day, then in 1948 an original member of Flatt and Scruggs' Foggy Mountain Boys, and then in 1949 with Bill Monroe. From 1952-1956, Mac with his band "The Country Boys" recorded several hits for Dot Records including "Jimmy Brown the Newsboy," "Love Letters in the Sand," "The Ballad of Davy Crockett." From 1957-1963, he was an A & R man (Artists and Repertoire) for Dot Records and ran the company's country-music department. While at Dot, he was instrumental in the success of Pat Boone's career. It was Mac who suggested that Pat record the song "Love Letters in the Sand" which became a smash hit for the young singer. In 1958, Mac one of the founders of the Country Music Association (CMA) and its first secretary. In 1965, he performed at the first bluegrass festival in Fincastle, Virginia. In 1966, Mac managed WWVA Jamboree in Wheeling, West Virginia. That was the year that he recorded this album for Uncle Jim's Rural Rhythm Records.He was in fine country voice for songs that also include some uncredited accompaniment with drums, jew's harp, Dobro, harmonica, autoharp, electric bass, and others.

In more recent time, Mac's kept busy with music. In 1990, he was elected president of R.O.P.E. (Reunion of Professional Entertainers) in Nashville. One of the goals of the organization is to build a retirement home for country music entertainers. In 1991, he worked at the revived Old Dominion Barn Dance, Richmond, Virginia. In 1992, he worked at the Willie Nelson Theatre in Branson, Missouri. In 1993, Mac was inducted into the IBMA's Hall of Honor. In 1997, he recorded with "The Groove Grass Boyz." In 2001, Wiseman recorded a duet with his old friend Johnny Cash: "When It's Reveille Time in Heaven."

Songcarriers and musicologists would be particularly interested in this type of archival material. This set of 25 classics is reissued in Rural Rhythm's "Heritage Collection." It contains original mixes from 1966 along with some bonus tracks from the Wiseman master vault archives. Liner notes were written by country music historian Colin Escott based on an interview conducted with Wiseman. For the price and volume, this is an essential collection of mid-1960s Wiseman music for your own library.

Don't expect to hear vocal harmonies, elaborate arrangements or the same level of clarion studio recording quality we hear today. Rather, just enjoy and relive a classic country sound of yesteryear. Most of the cuts span about 2 minutes apiece. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Voice for the Ages, May 27, 2009

By 

Steve Heimel "the old bullrider" (Anchorage, AK USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Best Of: Essential Original Masters 25 Classics (Audio CD)

This is not a typical Wiseman release. Most of the material is covers. But these are great old songs done by a master during the busiest time of his career. They were all done for the regional Rural Rhythm label, which sold 45's to the hillibillies in the Wheeling area. I absolutely love it. This is the music I grew up with. The owner of Rural Rhythm reminds me of the great Syd Nathan of King Records not too far away in Cincinnati. He knew what he liked, and he knew the musicians who could deliver it. Some Rural Rhythm artists became well known and others never got beyond regional fame.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Wise Man would buy this Wiseman, Mac, that is!, January 19, 2011

By 

Woody "Pinocchio" (VA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Best Of: Essential Original Masters 25 Classics (Audio CD)

This is a complilation of earlier songs by Mac. All very good. He has been a prolific performer and recording artist for many years with over 70 albums and songs from ballads to country to bluegrass. If you have a doubt on a Mac Wiseman album go to his bio on the net - the man has a style and voice as good as George Jones. Yes, AS GOOD AS!